The main one that affects performance is Options > Preferences > Multiprocessing > "Overlap I/O with computation if possible", which defaults to be on with Pro but off with trial and Personal. There are several options settings that default differently for trial versus Pro licenses. The lack of license probably will affect performance. Pierre wrote:Unfortunately, I don't have a ZS Pro license yet, so the test will only be performed on a "license expired" version with hope the speed will not be affected. Of course, speed is not all since the only criteria in the end is the result so guess I will end up having both to work with, using ZS for difficult subjects. For the test: both in "standard" parameters a compilation of 145 pictures with Dmap / Method B (both aligned). Unfortunately, I don't have a ZS Pro license yet, so the test will only be performed on a "license expired" version with hope the speed will not be affected. I do not compare both since a few month so, to be fair, I wil download the last version for this run. ZS was written in Java so it is very flexible and works even on linux while HF is more specialized, with gain of the speed. Results seems quite similar, maybe a bit better for hairy subjects. No doubts ZS have some nice option in his sleeves. ZS is even faster and HF improve the retouch capabilities by allowing to include both frames or stacking results + the addition of the "slab" and the capability to stack from video. To be frank, both program have greatly improved since last year. To my mind, one measure of a software application's prominence is the ecosystem of complementary software that evolves around it. There are other slabbing programs, easily found in a search. More recent, and more refined, is Bugslabber. A slabbing utility I wrote, and share freely, is called SlabberJockey. Slabbing makes retouching difficult subjects easier. This capability has permitted several of us to write-and make available to others-utilities for slabbing (also called "sub-stacking"). All it takes is minor ability to build and edit macros. However, the feature set is pretty deep, and every time I watch a tutorial again, I learn or get reminded of some hotkey or nuance that speeds up my work.Īnother nice thing about Zerene Stacker is its robust batch utility, in which most of the application's capabilities are available for anyone to automate for various purposes. I didn't find the learning curve for Zerene Stacker to be steep, particularly given the excellent tutorials that Rik linked you to. I've been happy with it ever since, though I can't fairly comment on current versions of its competitors. (Standard disclaimer: I wrote that one so I'm biased.)Ī few years ago, I tried then-current versions of all the stacking applications I could find, and chose Zerene Stacker. It works much less well for complex geometries like bristly bugs, so I don't use it much.īy the way, if you're asking in general about focus stacking software, then I'll suggest taking a look also at Zerene Stacker. The 3D function of Helicon Focus works well for simple smooth geometries like the faces of Ray's coins. For me recovery has been a simple matter of just re-registering on the same computer, using the same activation code they sent me at purchase back in 2008. I too have had a bit of trouble lately with Helicon Focus losing track of its license key, resulting in watermarks and eventual expiration. If high quality is your goal, stay away from that version. HF Lite is attractive because of its low price, but it's crippled by the absence of retouching tools. My license is effectively Premium, because I purchased separately Helicon Focus Pro and Helicon Remote. Helicon FB Tube automatically shifts the focus by one step with each shot thus producing a stack of images of unlimited length that can be rendered into a fully-focused image.Rcroning wrote:Helicon Focus Lite, Pro or Premium - which do you use and why? Is the Lite package a good choice for the beginner? Helicon FB Tube is an extension tube with integrated electronic microcontroller designed to enable automated focus bracketing in single or continuous shooting modes. Tethered photography makes focus stacking more accurate, reproducible, and higher quality than can be achieved with manual shots. Tethered photography for Canon and Nikon DSLR cameras: automates focus (DoF) bracketing, which allows precise and uniform steps, advanced exposure bracketing and time-lapse shooting-even all these combined if necessary. Then you can use Helicon Focus to blend all the sharp areas together and Focus stacking software: a post-processing technique that extends the depth of field in your photographs.To use this technique, you take several images of the same scene, focusing your lens on a different part of the object for each shot.
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